HNAR-353: Histories of Film Comedy

This course is an examination and overview of the histories of film comedy deliberating from its roots in ancient Greece and early vaudeville to the present day. The course will consider various comedic structures, traditions and periods, spanning Commedia Dell'Arte, burlesque, clowning, vaudeville, cabaret, silent film, slapstick, parody, anarchic comedy, black comedy, screwball, action, standup, television, sci-fi comedy, romantic comedy to present-day You-Tube, Tik-Tok and other online tendencies. Social, political and philosophical meanings and intentions will be considered. The zoom remote course will be presented through lectures, screenings by stream, readings, discussions, and research writing assignments. This course provides that students will analyze the distinctive traits of film comedy today within the broader context of cinema history and comedy history. This course introduces students to the essentials of film analysis, cinematic formal elements, genre, and narrative structure and helps students develop the skills to recognize, analyze, and describe film.